01.08.08
It’s not for the cock, it’s for the digitalness of a first post
Digitalism/The Whip - The Plug, Sheffield
With The Whip headlining the live events and the electro band of 2007 Digitalism on the decks, this was sure to be a night of people pulling shapes.
Kicking off the events are local Sheffielders Atoness. With their dark rock sound mixed with synths and heavy beats they get the small crowd really going and despite the near empty room they put their heart into it with the guitarist jumping into the crowd and flying around the stage. This is a great small band and with tracks like ‘Magnus PI’ and ‘Waiting for the Monkeys’ they are going to get bigger in 2008.
Next to hit the stage are Dark Sparks. Deviating from electro theme of the night, this straight up indie four piece do little to impress. They just seem to have that average ‘indie’ band sound that seems to have hijacked the radio waves. Their set is nothing special playing through it with what seems little effort to get the crowd, now standing still, going. Then the lead singer steps up to the mic to announce their penultimate song ‘Into the Dark’. They start the first chords and as front man Leigh Greenwood starts to sing people start to look towards the stage, they actually have a good song and finishing with single ‘Blood Petrol Fire’ show that Dark Sparks could be an exciting band. They just need to expand on the few good songs they have.
Enter The Whip. With their blend of electro and indie rock they show the support acts how it’s done. Seamlessly flowing through their set. The crowd aren’t pushing to get to the front like at your usual gig, but are dancing their hearts out. This is what sets The Whip apart from all the other bands like them, in a sense they are more like DJs with instruments as their decks, instead of a live band, only interested in making everyone have a good time. With the synth heavy ‘Divebomb’ to great dance track ‘Sister Siam’ The Whip were made to get people dancing, and this makes for an electrifying set. The Whip are only going to get bigger with live gigs as good as tonight.
Then the lights dim. The crowd turn to face the back of the room to where a square box stands a few feet from the back wall. This is the DJ booth. And this is what people have been waiting for. Up steps German duo Digitalism. Jumping straight into probably one of the best DJ sets I have ever been to, and the crowd definitely agree. Remixing all the big dance tracks of the 2007, from Klaxons to Kanye West, the crowd just go crazy for them. Half way though their set you hear what seems to be a snippet of their single ‘Pogo’ and the crowd go mental, realising the response Digitalism begin dropping their own tracks within the set and everyone loves it. If this is Digitalism’s DJ set then I cannot wait to see them live.
The Whip are touring with Simian Mobile Disco throughout February and their latest single Sister Siam is now available to buy.
MP3s
Kai Page said,
January 8, 2008 at 1:25 pm
nice review mr flip
i was at tht gig, and totally agree with wat u sed
altho id like to emphasise how gd the whip an digitalism were, fantastic!
Captain Lovebead said,
January 8, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I think this meets the standards set by the other cock rejecters.
Princess said,
January 9, 2008 at 10:25 am
That Atoness track is pretty awesome. Nice one! x
G Town said,
January 9, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Wicked revew, sounds like a great gig. I’d love to see Digitalism and I really like the Whip (though at dot to dot they were a bit average- but that wasn’t really their fault).